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West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project

Project
Proponent: 
OZ Minerals Musgrave Operations Pty Ltd
Proposal description: 

OZ Minerals Musgrave Operations Pty Ltd propose to develop the West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project, located in the West Musgrave Ranges of Western Australia,  approximately 1,300 km north-east of Perth near to the intersection of the borders between Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. The nearest towns include the Indigenous Communities of Jameson (Mantamaru) 26 km north, Blackstone (Papulankutja) 50 km east, and Warburton (Milyirrtjarra) 110 km west of the proposal. 

The proposal includes the development of two copper and nickel deposits via two open pits, with processing facilities, a borefield, temporary and permanent waste landforms, a tailings storage facility, accommodation, airstrip and power infrastructure.  

The proposal would require the clearing of up to 3,830 ha of native vegetation within a Development Envelope of 20,852 ha. The proposed mine life is 26 years.

Assessment Number: 
2286
Region: 
Goldfields Esperance
Referred under EP Act: 
s38
Industry sector: 
Copper
Nickel
Last updated: 
November 25, 2024
Current Status: 
Ministerial Statement published
Ministerial Statement published
1. Referral
Comment on this referral: 
West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project
Comment period: 
Thursday, 14 January, 2021 to Wednesday, 20 January, 2021
Referral documentation: 
PDF icon Referral Form.pdf
PDF icon Referral_Main Report_Part1.pdf
PDF icon Referral_Main Report_Part2.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX A GENERAL.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 1.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 2.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 3.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 4.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX C LANDFORMS.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 1.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 2.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 3.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 4.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX E SUBTERRANEAN FAUNA.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX F TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT QUALITY.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX G TERRESTRIAL FAUNA.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX H AIR QUALITY.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX I GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX J SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS (12) (1).pdf
2. Decision on whether to assess this proposal
Chair's Determination: 
Assess - Additional Assessment Information (public review)
Extract of determination: 
PDF icon West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project
Preliminary Environmental Factors: 
Social Surroundings
Flora and Vegetation
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters
Date published: 
Tuesday, 23 March, 2021
3. Assessment
Environmental Review
Environmental Review documentation: 
PDF icon Referral_Main Report_Revision 2_Volume 1 of 2.pdf
PDF icon Referral_Main Report_Revision 2_Volume 2 of 2.pdf
PDF icon 1. Cultural Heritage Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 2. Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 3. Greenhouse Gas Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 4. Terrestrial Fauna Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 5. Flora and Vegetation Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX A GENERAL.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 1.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 2.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 3.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX B FLORA AND VEGETATION_Part 4.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX C LANDFORMS.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 1.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 2.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX D INLAND WATERS_Part 3.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX E SUBTERRANEAN FAUNA.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX F TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT QUALITY.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX G TERRESTRIAL FAUNA.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX H AIR QUALITY.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX I GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX J SOCIAL SURROUNDINGS.pdf
PDF icon WMP EPA Sect38 Referral_APPENDIX K MANAGEMENT PLANS.pdf
Date Published (Environmental Review documentation): 
June 28, 2021
Proponent response to submissions: 
PDF icon WMP Response to submissions Part 1.pdf
PDF icon WMP Response to submissions Part 2.pdf
PDF icon 1. Cultural Heritage Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 2. Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 3. Greenhouse Gas Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 4. Terrestrial Fauna Management Plan.pdf
PDF icon 5. Flora and Vegetation Management Plan.pdf
Date published (Proponent response to submissions): 
November 8, 2021
4. EPA Report on assessment
EPA Report Number: 
1720
EPA Report: 
PDF icon EPA Report 1720 - West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project - assessment report .pdf
Key Environmental Factors: 
Social Surroundings
Flora and Vegetation
Terrestrial Fauna
Inland Waters
Date published: 
Friday, 4 February, 2022
Appeals close: 
Friday, 25 February, 2022
5. Decision on proposal and implementation of proposal
Ministerial Statement
Date of approval: 
Wednesday, 20 April, 2022
Ministerial Statement: 
PDF icon Statement 1188.pdf
Post-assessment changes
Section 46 inquiry: 
West Musgrave Copper and Nickel Project (s46) [2490]
s. 45C amendments: 

Attachment 1 to Statement 1188 - Increase in maximum extent of Mine and associated infrastructure from 20,852 hectares to 21,660 hectares. • Increase in clearing from no more than 3,830 hectares to no more than 4,123.3 hectares. Change to conditions approved under s. 45C on 2 February 2024.

Attachment 2 to Statement 1188 - Minor change to conditions 1 and 3. Change to conditions approved under s. 45C on 15 April 2024.

Date of approval s. 45C: 
Friday, 2 February, 2024
Monday, 15 April, 2024

Source URL:https://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/west-musgrave-copper-and-nickel-project